THE IDEALS OF STATEHOOD
71:3.1
The political or administrative form of a government is of
little consequence provided it affords the essentials of civil
progress -- liberty, security, education, and social
co-ordination. It is not what a state is but what it does that
determines the course of social evolution. And after all, no
state can transcend the moral values of its citizenry as
exemplified in their chosen leaders. Ignorance and selfishness
will insure the downfall of even the highest type of government.
71:3.2
Much as it is to be regretted,
national egotism has been essential to social survival. The
chosen people doctrine has been a prime factor in tribal welding
and nation building right on down to modern times. But no state
can attain ideal levels of functioning until every form of
intolerance is mastered; it is everlastingly inimical to human
progress. And intolerance is best combated by the co-ordination
of science, commerce, play, and religion.
71:3.3
The ideal state functions under the
impulse of three mighty and co-ordinated drives:
1. Love loyalty derived
from the realization of human brotherhood.
2. Intelligent patriotism
based on wise ideals.
3. Cosmic insight
interpreted in terms of planetary facts, needs, and goals.
71:3.4
The laws of the ideal state are few
in number, and they have passed out of the negativistic taboo
age into the era of the positive progress of individual liberty
consequent upon enhanced self-control. The exalted state not
only compels its citizens to work but also entices them into
profitable and uplifting utilization of the increasing leisure
which results from toil liberation by the advancing machine age.
Leisure must produce as well as consume.
71:3.5
No society has progressed very far
when it permits idleness or tolerates poverty. But poverty and
dependence can never be eliminated if the defective and
degenerate stocks are freely supported and permitted to
reproduce without restraint.
71:3.6
A moral society should aim to
preserve the self-respect of its citizenry and afford every
normal individual adequate opportunity for self-realization.
Such a plan of social achievement would yield a cultural society
of the highest order. Social evolution should be encouraged by
governmental supervision which exercises a minimum of regulative
control. That state is best which co-ordinates most while
governing least.
71:3.7
The ideals of statehood must be
attained by evolution, by the slow growth of civic
consciousness, the recognition of the obligation and privilege
of social service. At first men assume the burdens of government
as a duty, following the end of the administration of political
spoilsmen, but later on they seek such ministry as a privilege,
as the greatest honor. The status of any level of civilization
is faithfully portrayed by the caliber of its citizens who
volunteer to accept the responsibilities of statehood.
71:3.8
In a real commonwealth the business
of governing cities and provinces is conducted by experts and is
managed just as are all other forms of economic and commercial
associations of people.
71:3.9
In advanced states, political
service is esteemed as the highest devotion of the citizenry.
The greatest ambition of the wisest and noblest of citizens is
to gain civil recognition, to be elected or appointed to some
position of governmental trust, and such governments confer
their highest honors of recognition for service upon their civil
and social servants. Honors are next bestowed in the order named
upon philosophers, educators, scientists, industrialists, and
militarists. Parents are duly rewarded by the excellency of
their children, and purely religious leaders, being ambassadors
of a spiritual kingdom, receive their real rewards in another
world.
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